Match-machine.



No. 718,048. PATENTBD' JAN. 6, 1903.

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MATCH MACHINE APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12,}899. RENEWED APB. 12,1900. no MODEL. a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P TENTED JAN. 6,1903.

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MATCH MACHINE. 7 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1899-. RENEWED APR. 12, 1900.

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-1'10 MODEL" S a S E 4%. 718,048. PATENTED JAN. 6, 1903. W. E. COOK. MATCH MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 12. 1899. RENEWED APR. 12, 1900. no MODEL. 3 $HEBT8-SHEE'I. 3x

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EDWARD COOK, OF OGDENSBURG, NEW YORK.

MATCH-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,048, dated January 6, 1903.

Original application filed June 1, 1898. gerial No. 682,269. Divided and this application filed January 12, 1899. Renewed April 12, 1900. Serial No. 12,632. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM EDWARD COOK, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Ogdensburg, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a'full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in match-machines; and it consists in a matchmachine having a carrier-chain, of a cutterhead, cutters secured thereto and overhanging opposite sides of the said head, so as to be capable of cutting two rows of splints, one row upon each side of the cutter-head, and placing them into the sections of the said carrier-chain, the travel of such chain being from one cutter-line toward the other, the sections of the chain following one another across the plane in which the cutter-head moves, and feed-troughs extending to each side of the cutter-head and entering the inachine from opposite sides thereof, whereby blocks of wood are presented to the cutters upon each side of the head simultaneously.

It also consists in a carrier+chain for matchmachines having outer and inner slats, the outer slats being stationary and the inner slats movable, pivoted links connecting the inner movable slats, the construction being such that when the inner movable slats are moved horizontally with respect to each other they will grip the match-splints or release them, according to the direction in which they are moved.

It also consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. v

This application is a division of an application which issued as Patent No. 620,539 on the 28th day of February, 1899, for improvements in match-machines.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of a match-machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the same,

illustrating the manner of arranging the feedtroughs. Fig. 3 represents a detail transverse sectional view illustrating the means for operating the movable slats of the carrier-chain. Fig. 4 represents a top plan view of a section of the carrier-chain, the same being in its open position. Fig. 5 represents a similar view, the slats being closed to grip the match-splints. Fig. 6' represents an end elevation of one of the said sections, and Fig. 7 represents a detail cross-section through the same.

In employing a match-machine which is provided with a cutter-head having cutters which overhang both edges thereof, so as to out two rows of splints at once, as described and claimed by me in an application filed June 1, 1898, Serial No. 682,269, I find that it is often advisable to employ feed-troughs in connection with the same which not only present blocks of wood to opposite sides of the cutter-head, but enter the machine from opposite sides of its frame.

In carrying out the present invention I mount upon a suitable frame 1 a reciprocating cutter-head, as 2, upon the upper edge of which is secured cutters or dies 3. These dies, as seen in the drawings, extend beyond the opposite faces of the cutter-head, so that by reciprocating the same the cutters are capable of cutting two rows of splints-one upon each side of the cutter-head--simultaneously. As seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the feedtroughs 4 4 are so arranged as to present blocks of wood beneath the cutting edges of the dies 3 when the cutter-head is in its upper position, so that when the cutter-head is carried downwardly the dies will engage the blocks of wood and sever the match-splints from the same. When the cutter-head rises again, it carries the splints upwardly and inserts them into a suitable chain, as will be hereinafter described. Aswill be seen from Fig. 2 in the drawings, the feed-troughs 4 enter the machine from opposite sides thereof and are arranged upon opposite sides of the cutter-head, the said troughs being preferably at a sharp angle with respect to the said cutter-head. The troughs elupon opposite sides of the machine are preferably arranged upon parallel lines with respect to each other. It will be seen by this construction that blocks of wood may be fed to opposite sides of the cutter simultaneously and from opposite sides of the machine and that the cutter-head may out two rows of splints upon each descent. Suitable means for feeding the blocks forward in the troughs may be employed, preferably that described and shown in my previous application above referred to.

In connection with a machine of the style described I preferably employ a carrier-chain made up of sections hinged together, the sections of the said chain following one another in a plane at right angles to the plane of the cutter-head and passing from the line of one set of cutting edges toward the line of the other set of cutting edges. I find it desirable to employ a chain in which the splints may be firmly gripped when they are brought up by the cutter, so that they will be forcibly detached from the said cutter when it descends. As seen in the drawings, my improved carrier-chain 5 preferably consists of a series of sections composed of outer rigid slats, as 6 6, and inner movable slats, as 7 7. The slats 6 6 are provided at their ends with reduced portions, as 8 S,which project through circular bearings, as 9, in the connectinglinks 10. These links 10 also connect up the sections of the chain to form an endless carrier-chain. Each link 10 is provided with an elongated slot, as 11, centrally arranged in the same and adapted to receive the ends of the inner movable slats 7. These inner movable slats are connected by means of pivoted links, as 12, a number of the said links being preferably used in connecting the said slats, so that they will have a parallel movement when moved longitudinally with respect to each other. As seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings, when the inner slats 7 are moved so as to touch each other they will leave wide spaces between themselves and the outer fixed slats 6. In this position also the ends of one slat will project beyond that of the other upon each side of the chain, the said projecting end being then in position to be struck and forced inwardly by a suitable slat-operating mechanism. When the cutter-head rises, the upper ends of the matchsplints are inserted in the spaces between the inner and outer slats. The projecting ends of the inner slats are then struck by a suitable mechanism, so as to force the said inner slats in opposite directions longitudinally with respect to each other. The links 12 are thus caused to force the slats apart, as seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and grip the ends of the match-splints between the inner slats and the outer slats. When it is desired to discharge the matches from the saidchain, they may be knocked from between the slats thereof by well-known ejecting means or the slats may be again opened by moving them in an opposite direction from thatjust described. In order to guide the movement of the fixed links more perfectly and to hold the slats in truer relation to each other, suitable bands or inclosing links, as 13, are mounted upon the slats of each section, the said bands being preferably countersunk, so as to be flush with the surfaces of the slats, and thus offer no obstruction.

A carrier-chain constructed as I have above described is preferably fed forward in the machine by suitable cams, as 14: 14, as in my previous application.

While I may employ any suitable means for knocking in the movable inner slats for gripping the match-splints, yet I preferably employ mechanism described in my previous application and shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings in the present application. This mechanism comprises longitudinally-moving bolts, as 15, suitably guided in their movement and arranged opposite the path of the carrierchain, the said bolts being provided with antifriction-rollers which engage cam-paths, as 16, formed in the faces of the chain-feeding cams 14. This mechanism has been completely described and claimed in my aforesaid application, and therefore need not be further described here.

It will be observed that the arrangement of the feed-troughs and the construction of the sections of the carrier-chain are very simple and capable of easy manipulation.

While I have shown and described one form of carrier-chain, I do not wish to limit the arrangement of the feed-troughs and the cutter-head to use with such construction of chain, as it is'obvious that any other form of carrier-chain might be employed therewithas, for instance, sections of chain composed of perforated plates properly connected together-without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a match-machine,in combination with a suitable splint receiving and holding carrier, a movable cutter-head having a double row of splint-cutters adapted to cut splints from blocks and deliver them to the carrier, feed-troughs leading from opposite sides of the machine to opposite sides of the cutterhead, so that each trough will conduct blocks, from which the splints are to be cut, into the path of one of the rows of cutters on the cutter-head, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a match-machine,in combination with a traveling carrier to receive and hold matchsplints in rows, a reciprocating cutter-head moving toward and from the carrier and having two rows of splint-cutters overhanging the front and rear sides, respectively, of the cutter-head wit-h reference to the direction of travel of the carrier, means for guiding blocks of splint material from opposite sides of the way along which the carrier travels to the front and rear sides of the cutter-head,

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allel, outer bars or slats, and links rigidly substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a match-machine,in combination with a splint receiving and holding carrier, a cutter-head having two rows of splint-cutters, situated so as to project beyond opposite sides of the head, and adapted tocut splints from blocks and present them to the carrier, feed- .troughs extending from beyond opposite sides of the carrier, inward, in opposite directions, toward the cutter-head, so that each one will guide a row of blocks inward at an angle to one of the rows of cutters, to cause them to be presented with their edges standing under the respective row of cutters as the cutterhead moves to cut splints, and means for feeding blocks of splint material inward along the two troughs toward the cutter-head, sub

stantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a in atch-machine,in combination with a splint receiving and holdingcarrier, a cutter-head having two rows of splint-cutters situated so as to project beyond opposite sides of the head, and adapted to cut splints from blocks and present them to the carrier, feedtroughs extending from beyond opposite sides of and at an oblique angle to the carrier, inward, in opposite directions toward the cutter-head, so that each one will guide a row of blocks inward at an oblique angle to one of the rows of cutters, to cause them to be presented with their edges standing under the respective rows of cutters as the cutter-head moves to cut splints, and means for feeding blocks of splint material inward along the two troughs toward the cutter-head.

5. A receiving and holding carrier for and for the purpose described.

6. A receiving and holding carrier for match-splints and the like, having two parallel outer bars or slats rigidly connected together by upper and lower connecting-pieces, two movable bars or slats situated between the former bars or slats and between the connecting-pieces connecting the latter together, and pivoted links connecting the movable bars or slats together, so that the movement of one movable bar longitudinally with reference to the other in one direction and the other will cause the two movable bars to move away from and toward each other, and toward and away from the adjoining outer bars, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. A receiving and holding carrier. for match-splints and the like, having two parbars or slats and projecting through the links connecting such bars or slats, and; single links pivotally connected with and connecting the two inner bars or slats, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. A receiving and holding carrier for splints and the like, having pairs of rigidly-' connected, parallel bars or slats, with pairs of movable bars or slats situated between the two rigidly-connected bars or slats of each pair,single pivoted links connecting the movable bars or slats of each pair, and links for connecting the pairs of rigidly-connected bars or slats together, each having an opening at or near each end to receive the projecting ends of the adjoining bars or slats of adjoining pairs of rigidly-connected, outer bars or slats, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. Inamatch-machine,in combination with a source of supply of splints adapted to deliver them in rows, a splint receiving and holding carrier having two parallel slats or bars rigidly connected together, two movable slats or bars between such other bars, and single pivoted links connecting the two movable slats or bars together, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a match-machine, in combination with a source of supply of blocks of material of which the splints are to be made, a splintcutter adapted to out two rows of splints at once, and deliver them to a carrier, a splint receiving and holding carrier, having two bars or slats rigidly connected together and two movable bars or slats situated between the other ones, and connected together by pivoted links, so that as they are moved longitudinally with respect to each other, in

one direction or the other, the links will cause them to approach and recede from the adjacent, rigidly-connected bars or slats, substantially as and for the purpose described.

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11. A receiving and holding carrier for match-splints and the like,having two rigidlyconnected bars or slats, and the two movable bars or slats connected together by pivoted links, so that, as they are moved longitudinally with reference to each other, the links will cause them to spread apart and approach the rigidly-connected, outer bars or slats to clamp splints between them and the latter bars or slats, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a match-machine, the combination with a carrier-chain, ofa cutter-head, a double cutter centrally supported thereon and having cutter edges projecting beyond each side or" the cutter-head, whereby it is capable of cutting a row of splints on each side of the cutter-head simultaneously, and depositing thesame in the carrier-chain, feed-troughs leading to opposite sides of the cutter-head and entering the machine from opposite sides 4 name thereof, and means for reciprocating the cut- 1 other the links will cause them to spread apart IO ter-head, substantially as and for the purpose described.

13. In a match-machine, the combination with a cutter, of a carrier-chain, comprising outer and inner slats, the inner slats being connected by means of pivoted links, the construction being such that when the inner slats are moved longitudinally with respect to each and grip the match-splints, substantially as and for the purpose described;

In testi'monywhereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM EDWARD COOK.

Witnesses:

ALRIO R. HINMAN, EDWARD P. LYNCH. 

